John Kliewer joined Keewatin Air in 2018. He provides senior leadership, strategy, operational continuous improvement, and organization development/excellence expertise to the management and staff of Keewatin Air. He also provides general human resources consultation and advice to the organization as appropriate.
In 1988 during his second year of studies at the University of Manitoba, John was accepted as an Officer Candidate in the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserves. In 1989, after graduating at the top of his class from the Canadian Forces Officer Development School, he received his Commission as a Second-Lieutenant. Over the next 14 years John completed over 3,000 missions as a Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Flying Standards Officer. As well, John was appointed to several command positions with respect to flight operations and training in Manitoba and Alberta. John also completed the Flight Safety/Accident Investigator Course with the RCAF Directorate of Flight Safety (DFS). Towards the later part of his service, John was attached to Air Command HQ in Winnipeg to support Provincial Operations in the Province of Manitoba. In 2006, John retired from the RCAF Reserves at the Rank of Captain, after having been awarded the Canadian Decoration (CD) Medal in 2004 for Long Service to the Canadian Armed Forces with exemplary conduct.
While serving in the military, John simultaneously completed his Science Degree at the University of Manitoba in 1990. Then in 1996, he began a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Winnipeg. John went on to complete an advanced Certificate in Human Resources Management from the University of Manitoba from 2003 to 2005.
Being a ‘part-time’ military pilot allowed John to work in the private sector in the areas of organization/personnel development, and operations excellence. He held leadership and organization development positions in organizations ranging in size from 100 to over 1,000 employees. In 2011, John joined Manitoba Aerospace Inc., an organization supporting workforce, business/organization, and research/innovation development for the Province of Manitoba’s large aerospace and defence industries. In this position, John supported the CEOs, CFOs, and COOs of over 30 organizations in Manitoba, as well as organizations in Western Canada, and the UK. His support assisted these organizations to develop and implement world class management systems and methodologies, enhancing the ability of these organizations to be able to succeed in the very competitive aerospace and defence industries globally.
John has been a member of the association of Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Manitoba since 1997. He received the designation of: Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) in 2008. John currently volunteers with CPHR Manitoba as a member of the CPHR Awards of Excellence Judges Committee, which recognizes business and personnel innovation and excellence annually within the Province of Manitoba.